However, civil unions were introduced in Sweden for gays and lesbians in 1994 and adoption by gay couples is permitted.

"It means that lesbian couples are now accepted in the Swedish health care system on the same level as heterosexual couples," said Soeren Andersson, president of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay and Transgender Rights.

"The big thing now is that the government has removed the rule that lesbian couples are not allowed to have in vitro fertilisation."

Under the present legislation, the state-run health system can only offer IVF treatment to women married to a man or living with a male partner.

European countries where assisted fertilisation is available to lesbian couples include Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Great Britain, Russia, Ireland and Spain.

In Italy, stringent legislation restricting IVF treatment to heterosexual couples, introduced in March 2004, is due to be relaxed.